Real answers for chronic dry, burning, tired eyes.
If drops are not enough anymore, there is usually a reason. We find it, then treat it, instead of asking you to live with it.
- Physician-led care
- No upselling, ever
- Insurance checked in advance
- Second opinions welcome
The short answer
Dry eye is a common, treatable medical condition, not just an occasional annoyance. At Riverdell Vision's dry eye evaluation, Dr. Mina Han identifies why your eyes are dry, most often a problem with the oil glands in your eyelids or the quality of your tears, and builds a treatment plan. Options range from targeted drops and eyelid therapies to in-office treatments for the underlying gland dysfunction. The aim is lasting comfort, not a lifetime of temporary relief.
Reviewed by Dr. Mina Han, OD · Updated June 2026
Why this matters
Burning, grittiness, watering, fluctuating vision, and tired eyes by the afternoon are the everyday signs of dry eye. Over-the-counter drops can mask symptoms, but they rarely fix the cause. For most people, the real issue is meibomian gland dysfunction, the eyelid glands that should release a healthy layer of oil onto the tear film are blocked or underperforming, so tears evaporate too fast.
Who this is for
- Anyone who relies on drops through the day and still feels irritation
- Contact lens wearers whose lenses have become uncomfortable
- People with burning, gritty, watery, or fluctuating vision
- Long screen users, and patients considering LASIK
Is this you?
Check what sounds familiar.
A quick self-check, not a diagnosis. Tap the ones that apply to you or your child. Nothing you select is stored.
Select any that apply and we will suggest a sensible next step.
A careful, measured process.
No guesswork and no rushing. Here is how an evaluation actually goes.
- 01
A dedicated dry eye evaluation
This is not a rushed add-on to a glasses check. We take time to assess your symptoms, tear quality, and the health of your eyelid glands.
- 02
Finding the cause
We look at whether the problem is too few tears, poor-quality tears, gland blockage, inflammation, or a mix, because the cause determines the fix.
- 03
A staged plan
You get a plan that starts with the least invasive effective step and escalates only if needed, with follow-up to confirm real improvement.
Options matched to you, not a default.
Every plan is personalized. These are the approaches we most often use, with no exaggerated promises about outcomes.
- 01
Targeted at-home therapy
The right lubricants, eyelid hygiene, warm therapy, and nutrition guidance, matched to your specific type of dry eye rather than guessed.
- 02
Prescription treatment
When inflammation is driving symptoms, prescription drops can calm the surface and help your eyes make healthier tears.
- 03
In-office gland therapies
For meibomian gland dysfunction, in-office heat-based and light-based treatments can restore oil flow and give longer-lasting relief.
Cost & insurance
What will this cost, and is it covered?
A medical dry eye evaluation is often billable to your medical insurance rather than a vision plan, because dry eye is a medical condition. Some advanced in-office gland treatments are typically not covered. We check your coverage in advance and explain any out-of-pocket cost before treatment.
- Insurance verified in advance
- Clear pricing before you commit
- No upselling, ever
Your doctor
Dr. Mina Han, OD
Dr. Han leads Riverdell Vision's medical eye-care and myopia-management programs, known by patients for thorough exams, updated technology, and a calm, unhurried chair-side manner.
What our patients say
Dr. Han was amazing! I've been having a ton of eye issues where other doctors dismissed to "just being my contacts". I learned I had an underlying issue with clogged pores and immediately worked with me on a new care plan. Will definitely be going to Dr. Han for all my eye appts!
Always a great experience going to Riverdell Vision. Dr Han is an outstanding optometrist. She's an expert at what she does, she listens, and is thorough in all her evaluations. She's always incorporating the latest technology, techniques, and methods from her field. The service is stellar and the staff are all friendly. Would highly recommend!
Kindest staffs and doctor ever! Doctor Han explained all the details very kindly in Korean and English as well.
THE BEST! Dr. Amy Mundanchira is the best optometrist I have ever seen. Knowledgeable, takes time, kind, able to handle complex medical histories and really listens!
In plain English
Dry Eye, in plain English
- Meibomian glands
- Oil glands in the eyelids that keep tears from evaporating too fast. When they under-perform (MGD), tears break up and eyes feel dry.
- Tear film
- The thin, layered film of water, oil, and mucus that coats and protects the surface of the eye.
- Evaporative dry eye
- The most common form of dry eye, driven by poor-quality oil letting tears evaporate, rather than too few tears.
- Ocular surface
- The cornea and conjunctiva, the tissues a healthy tear film protects.
Good questions, answered plainly.
Considering Dry Eye?
Request a consult and we will help you understand your options, with clear guidance and no pressure.